Requirements for B.M. Degree Candidates

Students must take the equivalent of 35 credits through a combination of full-credit and fractional-credit courses. Note: For numerical purposes, the term "course" means a full (1.00) course credit, as distinguished from fractional course credits, unless otherwise noted.

2. Residency Requirement

Seventeen of the 35 credits required for graduation must be taken through St. Olaf College. This may include St. Olaf-sponsored off-campus programs.

The senior residency requirement consists of registration through St. Olaf either (a) during the last two semesters and Interim preceding the conferring of the degree or (b) for at least nine of the last 12 full course credits. For instance, seniors may spend one of their last terms at another institution only if a maximum of three credits are applied to the St. Olaf degree. A senior may spend the final semester on a St. Olaf-sponsored off-campus program. See, however, PARTICIPATION IN COMMENCEMENT.

3. January Interim

At least three of the required 35 credits must be earned in three separate January full-credit (1.0) Interims. An Interim may be taken on campus, through a St. Olaf off-campus Interim program, or through an approved Interim exchange with another 4-1-4 college. Transfer students admitted with at least sophomore standing must complete two Interims. After having successfully completed two Interims, senior participators may satisfy the third Interim requirement by means of a summer course taken during a St. Olaf summer session after the commencement in which the student participates.

4. Grade Points and Grade Point Average

An average grade of C (2.00 on a 4.00 system) for all courses taken for the usual letter grades. See GRADE POINT AVERAGE for details.

Satisfactory completion of 18 credits above level I, courses numbered 200 and higher. A course can earn only its assigned level. It cannot be raised in level as the result of extra studies, assignments, or performance.

A minimum of 24 credits out of 35 must be taken graded through courses taken from a St. Olaf professor.A sliding scale is used if not all work is taken at St. Olaf or if credit is earned through special programs such as Advanced Placement. Sophomore transfer students need a minimum of 18 graded credits and junior transfer students a minimum of 13 graded credits. Details are available from the registrar. All students should be aware of the restrictions on S/U and P/N grades. Students studying on St. Olaf off-campus programs should refer to GRADED AND UNGRADED COURSES in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog for details about how this graduation requirement is affected by off-campus programs.

7. Major — 8 or More Credits

B.M. candidates must choose from the five majors offered. Please consult the Music Department listing in this catalog for specific major requirements. These constitute the final authority on degree requirements. Entrance to all B.M. majors is by audition and/or application only. Once approved, students should declare their major formally as soon as possible by submitting a completed declaration of major form to the Music Department office. Subsequent changes are allowed, but students are encouraged to keep their records current, documenting any changes with re-submissions of the same form.Other regulations are:

Of the credits counting toward the minimum requirements for a major, a total of six (6.00) must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

No courses explicitly required for a B.M Music major may be taken S/U.

At least 50 percent of the minimum major must be taken through St. Olaf. Students should consult the registrar and the department chair or program director about counting toward a major courses taken at other colleges. The chair must sign the student’s transfer of credit form (available from the Registrar’s Office) if work from other institutions is accepted in advance. Likewise, courses taken through St. Olaf off-campus programs must be approved by the chair or director and the off-campus program advisor in advance if credit toward a major is sought. (See TRANSFERRING CREDITS TO ST. OLAF )

Certification of a completed major is the responsibility and prerogative of the department chair, not the registrar.

A student with an incomplete on his/her academic record may participate in Commencement if all other requirements for graduation have been met (see PARTICIPATION IN COMMENCEMENT). Only after a final grade has been recorded for the course, however, will a degree be conferred and a diploma issued.

10. Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Music Double-Degree Option

Students must meet the application requirements for both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degree programs.

Students engage in professional study in music and study in the liberal arts, leading to both Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts degrees.

The duration of the double-degree option may vary among disciplines but will be less than the sum of the durations of both degree programs if undertaken separately. For most students, pursuit of a double-degree option will require five years of study. It should be noted that in a few cases (notably when the B.A. graduation major is in the natural sciences) completion of all requirements in five years may not be possible.

Students pursuing the double-degree option may choose between the five Bachelor of Music graduation majors (Church Music, Elective Studies, Music Education, Performance, and Theory/Composition) and any of the Bachelor of Arts graduation majors except Music.

Students shall meet the requirements for the B.A. graduation major and B.M. graduation major, as well as the general education requirements and general comprehensive graduation requirements for the two degrees. The final two years of coursework in pursuit of the degrees must be spent in residence. A minimum of 43 full-course credits must be completed with 17 of the last 20 full-course credits earned through St. Olaf.

Students required to continue study in a fifth year to complete two degrees are eligible for continuing financial aid from St. Olaf College.

A double-degree student may elect to graduate in two different semesters, one with each degree, but must meet all requirements for the degree and the graduation major within that degree before the diploma for that degree will be awarded.

Graduating double-degree students receive two diplomas, one for each degree.